Table 1.

General characteristics of studies included in meta-analysis of low dose prednisolone in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Study	Design	Study drugs		Length of treatment (days)
		Prednisolone	Control
Berry 197433	Crossover	15 mg	Placebo	7
Boardman 196734*	Crossover	7.5 mg	Placebo	7
Böhm 19673536	Crossover	2.5 mg	Placebo	8
Dick 197037	Crossover	10 mg	Placebo; ibuprofen 1200 mg;  aspirin 4 g†	7
Gestel 1995632	Parallel	10 mg	Placebo	7‡
Jasani 196838	Crossover	15 mg	Placebo; ibuprofen 750 mg;  aspirin 5 g†	7
Lee 197339	Crossover	15 mg	Placebo; aspirin 5 g	7
Lee 19734041	Parallel	15 mg	Placebo; aspirin 3.9 g	14
Lee 197442	Crossover	10 mg	Placebo; sodium salicylate 4 g	7
Stenberg 199243	Crossover	3 mg	Placebo	5§

^*We included two patients in analysis (excluded by authors because of too little difference in joint size) by assuming that difference in grip strength was 0.  

^†Average of ibuprofen and aspirin used in analysis.  

^‡One week data provided by authors.  

^§Each flare treated for 5 days; three randomised patients who were excluded because of poor response to prednisolone in introductory test period included in analysis by assuming that difference between prednisolone and placebo was 0.